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Bill Clinton

Security expert: Think ahead to reduce risks

March 29, 2017 By B.C. Manion

While there’s no way to be entirely safe from potential natural disasters, criminal acts and terrorist threats — there are ways to reduce potential risks.

And, there are ways to get help in responding to incidents that have occurred.

Those were the twin messages delivered by a security advisor from the Department of Homeland Security to members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, during a chamber luncheon meeting.

O.T. ‘Ollie’ Gagnon, a protective security advisor for the Department of Homeland Security, offered tips to members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce on ways to reduce risks to their businesses and employees.
(B.C. Manion)

O.T. “Ollie” Gagnon III is a protective security advisor in the Central Florida District for the Department of Homeland Security, office of infrastructure protection.

He came to the luncheon to share his knowledge about the nature of threats and to alert chamber members to the myriad free resources that are available to help them.

There’s a wealth of information intended to help business owners to keep their businesses, customers and employees safe from potential threats and hazards, Gagnon said.

“We have a ton of resources that are available to you,” he said.

Gagnon advised those in the audience to check out the website, DHS.gov/hometownsecurity, to find out about the department’s Protective Security Advisor Program.

Gagnon also recommended Ready.gov/business to help businesses develop plans to ensure safety, security and business continuity.

He understands the importance of protecting infrastructure, to ensure the continued supply of electricity, communications and water.

Ready.gov/business also offers to help people learn how to identify and report suspicious activity, and to prepare to follow a security plan, in case of an emergency.

The Department of Homeland Security also offers pointers on how to spot suspicious behavior and how to report it. Those details can be found at DHS.gov/see-something-say-something.

Gagnon, whose district includes 17 counties, knows his ways around security issues.

Before joining the Department of Homeland Security, he was a 23-year veteran of the Air Force, engaged in assignments all over the world.
At one point, he was chief of security for Air Force One, under the G.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations, he said, estimating he had about 200 trips on Air Force One.

He also understands potential threats surrounding large events, such as the Super Bowl and the Republican National Convention.

But, there are other threats that can arise in daily life, in less secure environments, Gagnon said.

One of the biggest threats that businesses face is the potential for being unable to continue their business when there’s a natural disaster, an active shooting incident, or some other major incident.

“Seventy-five percent of businesses that are down for two weeks never come back up,” Gagnon said. That’s because they don’t have multiple locations or deep pockets.

Businesses need to know how they will continue to operate, if they are knocked out of commission by a Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane.

When it’s a Category 5, help will be coming, he said. For a less severe storm, a business might be on its own.

“How does your business get its power and water?” Gagnon asked.

“A tornado can affect your area for three, four, five, six, seven days,” he said. “An active shooter event, too, you can be down for a week because of the investigation.”

Whether an incident happens on a business’s property, or next door, it could affect the business’s ability to continue its operations, he said.

Obviously, risks arise in places where people routinely go, Gagnon said.

“Does anyone here not go to a mall?” You go to movie theaters. You go to night classes. Your children go to school,” he said.

There’s an online course offered through the Department of Homeland Security that can help prepare people to know what to do when an active shooter threat arises.

“We’ve all heard of the ‘Run, hide, fight.’ That comes out of our office,” Gagnon said.

“The chance of actually being involved in an active shooter incident, you probably have a greater chance of being bit by a shark or attacked by a gator. It’s like one in a million, literally, the odds,” he said.

On the other hand, threats from cybercrime continue to increase.

“Cyber security comes out of our office,” he said, and there are ways to reduce the threat.

When it comes to staying safe, preparation is important, Gagnon said.

“(FBI) Director (James) Comey said it best: ‘You don’t want to be that person who locks himself in a room and never comes out because he’s scared that something is going to happen, but you don’t want to be that person who’s standing on a subway platform in New York city with his iPod and his headphones in, reading something, standing a foot from the platform, oblivious to the world around him.

“You want to have a healthy sense of awareness.”

Helpful websites:
DHS.gov/hometownsecurity
Ready.gov/business
DHS.gov/see-something-say-something

Published March 29, 2017

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Air Force, Air Force One, Bill Clinton, Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Department of Homeland Security, G.W. Bush, James Comey, O.T. Gagnon III, Republican National Convention, Super Bowl

As Florida goes, so goes the nation…again!

November 16, 2016 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

This was an election like no other.

Once again, the Sunshine State was at the epicenter of it all.

For months on end, Florida was the center of attention in the national and international media, with its 29 Electoral College votes up for grabs — the largest number of any swing state.

Dr. Susan A. MacManus stands in front of a bus parked at the first 2016 presidential debate. The bus is touting CNN’s coverage of the 2016 race for president between Donald J. Trump and Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Courtesy of Susan A. MacManus)
Dr. Susan A. MacManus stands in front of a bus parked at the first 2016 presidential debate. The bus is touting CNN’s coverage of the 2016 race for president between Donald J. Trump and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
(Courtesy of Susan A. MacManus)

The candidates visited here over and over. During the last 100 days of the campaign, Trump visited Florida 100 times and Clinton 87 times.

Each made multiple stops here the final week before the election. Other states never saw either of them.

More than $49 million was spent on TV ads run in the Orlando and Tampa media markets — more than in any other media market in the nation.

But by the time it finally ended, Floridians were just happy it was over. The general consensus seems to be that while it was a very engaging campaign, it was too long, too negative, too expensive, and too divisive.

At the end of a very long, fiercely-fought, and contentious presidential election, Florida kept its record of picking winners intact, albeit by a very narrow 1 percent—the same margin by which Barack Obama won Florida in the 2012 election.

Few realize that since 1964, Florida has voted as the nation at-large in every election except for 1992, when George Herbert Walker Bush narrowly defeated Bill Clinton in his first race for the White House.

Pre-election polls had generally predicted that Hillary Clinton would win the Sunshine State. So when the networks called Donald Trump the winner at around 11:30 p.m. on Election Night, it came as a shock to many political analysts around the globe. It verified that the polls were unable to capture the extent of the “shadow” Trump vote.

A closer look at turnout and voting patterns reveals that Clinton was not able to repeat what Obama had done in Florida in 2012. Turnout and support levels among millennials and black voters were lower, offset by significantly higher rates among white voters in the state’s rural and suburban areas. The women’s vote was less cohesive than in 2012 and the Latino vote, while greater, was less unified than projected. Economics mattered more than other issues, and change mattered more than the status quo. In the end, those desperate for a change in direction of the country slightly outnumbered those valuing experience and the continuation of Obama’s policies.

How did Trump defy expectations?
There are 10 big reasons for Trump’s win, based on election results and a national press pool exit poll of around 4,000 Florida voters:

Reason No. 1: Trump ran up a large margin of victory in the famous Interstate 4 Corridor (the Tampa and Orlando media markets) where 44 percent of the state’s registered voters reside. Trump won the corridor 51 percent to 45 thanks to the area’s suburban counties where turnout and the vote margin for Trump was high. Trump did considerably better in three bellwether suburban counties (Pasco, Polk, and Manatee) than Romney did in 2012. Clinton won only three of the 18 counties in the corridor—Orange, Osceola, and Hillsborough—all large urban counties. Among them, the turnout rate fell in the largest (Hillsborough), although it did increase in Orange and Osceola.

Statewide, more than (54 percent) of those voting came from suburban or rural areas and most of both areas chose Trump. A majority of voters from urban areas picked Hillary.

Reason No. 2: Clinton did not do as well as Obama had in 2012. Clinton underperformed Obama’s share of the vote in every market except Miami, and underperformed his margin of victory in every market but Miami and Gainesville (narrowly). The falloff in the vote share of Clinton was steepest in the Tampa Bay media market (from 49 percent for Obama in 2012 to 44 percent for Clinton in 2016).

Reason No. 3: The state’s black voters did not turn out at the high level they did for Obama in 2012 nor did they give Clinton as wide a margin. In 2012, Obama’s margin of victory over Romney among black voters was 91 percent; hers over Trump was 76 percent.  Trump gained some support within the black community from Haitian voters around the state, thanks to his visits to Little Haiti and an aggressive radio ad campaign aimed at concentrations of Haitians around the state, including Clearwater. The falloff in black turnout has been attributed to less enthusiasm for Clinton than for Obama among some who saw breaking down the racial barrier to the White House as a bigger motivator to vote than cracking the gender glass ceiling.

Reason No. 4: Even though the Latino share of all voters increased significantly in 2016, Trump did better than expected among the state’s Hispanic voters. He received 35 percent of the Latino vote—a figure well above what many polls had projected in light of Trump’s harsh comments about immigrants. Press coverage of the impact of the huge influx of Puerto Rican votes into the state inferred that the bulk of Hispanics would vote Democrat and that would be enough to propel Clinton to the White House. (It is true that without the solidly pro-Clinton vote among Puerto Ricans, she would have lost Florida by more than 1 percent.) However, such accounts did not accurately describe the diversity of Florida’s Hispanic voters.  According to the exit poll, 54 percent of Cubans voted for Trump as did 26 percent of Florida Latinos with ties to other Latin American countries—Venezuelans and Colombians more than Mexicans, not surprising in light of Trump’s comments about “rapists” coming into the U.S. from Mexico and his plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.  (Cubans made up 6 percent of all Florida voters; non-Cubans, 10 percent).

Reason No. 5: Clinton did not do as well among women voters as expected.  Among women voters who were the majority of all voters, Clinton got 50 percent, Trump 46 percent, and other candidates 4 percent. Her 4 percent margin of victory fell short of Obama’s 7 percent in 2012—in spite of Trump’s degrading comments about women revealed in the Access Hollywood tape. Clinton did better among single than married women, and among older women more than younger women, especially millennials. The fact that Clinton would have been the first female president had led many to predict that the women’s vote would be much more solidly for her than usual. Instead, as has been true so often throughout history, the women’s vote was not as cohesive as expected.

Reason No. 6: Clinton had difficulty generating support (and turnout) from the millennials and GenXers who make up half of Florida’s registered voters.  These generations voted heavily for Obama in 2008 and 2012 but more than a third voted for Trump in 2016. There was also stronger support among younger votes for the third party candidates—Johnson and Stein—than among older generations. It was obvious Clinton was having trouble generating the same level of support among these younger voters as had Obama by where she held events during the last two weeks of the campaign—primarily on college campuses across Florida.  For many younger voters who had leaned toward Sanders (Democrats) or Rubio (Republicans) in the March Presidential Preference Primary, Clinton represented the status quo—a continuation of the two-party system that many view as corrupt, in large part due to elected officials’ heavy reliance on campaign contributions from special interests.

Reason No. 7: Nearly half (48 percent) identified the economy as the most important issue facing the country. Of those, 49 percent voted for Clinton, 46 percent for Trump.  But other economic questions tell a different story. Two-thirds of Florida voters have a negative opinion of the current condition of the national economy; 67 percent of them voted for Trump. Likewise, more than 70 percent describe their own financial situation today as worse or about the same (stagnant) as four years ago.  A majority of each group voted for Trump. Obamacare was another economic issue that helped Trump. Nearly half of Florida voters said it “went too far” and of those, 77 percent voted for Trump.

Reason No. 8: A huge portion — 73 percent — of Florida voters were dissatisfied or angry with the federal government. Of those 59 percent voted for Trump. Anti-Washington sentiments have run deep for almost a decade. The national exit poll results show that nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of voters across the country said the country was headed in the wrong direction—albeit for different reasons. Other surveys have shown an even deeper dislike/distrust of Congress over the same period.

Reason No. 9: Clinton’s promise to continue the policies of the Obama administration made it easier for voters wanting change rather than the status quo to choose Trump. A plurality (40 percent) of Florida voters identified the ability to bring change as the candidate quality that mattered most to them, followed by experience (21 percent), cares about me (16 percent), or has good judgment (18 percent).  Trump won a whopping 85 percent of those wanting change. Hillary won 88 percent of those who valued experience and 63 percent of those desiring caring or good judgment.

Reason No. 10: The underestimation of the enthusiasm gap between Trump and Clinton supporters was one of the greatest missteps by the press and the Clinton campaign. Their erroneous assumption was that the far larger crowds Trump was drawing was more out of curiosity than any strong attraction to his platform calling for change. Yet history tells us that after one party holds the White House for two terms, enthusiasm among those identifying with the other party is greater in the next election (Republicans in 2016).

Dr. Susan A. MacManus is a distinguished professor at the University of South Florida. She is recognized widely for her expertise of Florida politics, and is a resident of Land O’ Lakes.

Published November 16,2016

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Donald J. Trump, George Herbert Walker Bush, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Marco Rubio, Mitt Romney

Florida at the DNC: Witness to History

August 3, 2016 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Last week, the Democrats held their 2016 national convention in Philadelphia — the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection — and formally nominated Hillary Clinton for president and Sen. Tim Kaine for vice president.

When the balloon drop happened at the 2016 Democratic National Committee, it seemed like the balloons would never stop dropping, besides being plentiful — many of the balloons were huge. (Photos courtesy of Dr. Susan A. MacManus)
When the balloon drop happened at the 2016 Democratic National Committee, it seemed like the balloons would never stop dropping, besides being plentiful — many of the balloons were huge.
(Photos courtesy of Dr. Susan A. MacManus)

The Democratic National Convention followed the Republican National Convention, held the week before in Cleveland. Traditionally, the party that occupies the White House always goes second.

Florida’s 246 delegates headed to Philly knowing they would have a front row seat to watch history in the making — the nomination of the first woman presidential candidate from a major political party.

Hillary Clinton’s journey from her nomination to her acceptance speech was filled with surprises. So, too, were the four days that the delegates spent together.

Great Expectations: Met or not?
Florida delegates arrived in Philly fired up and ready to go, expecting their convention to:

  • Underscore the importance of winning Florida in November. Florida! Florida! Florida! Met? Yes.
  • Avoid any unpleasant surprises such as had occurred at the GOP convention. (Recall the Melania Trump speech plagiarism accusation and Ted Cruz’s refusal to endorse Trump.) Met? No.
  • Unify the party; bring Bernie Sanders supporters into the fold, especially since Sanders himself was being given a prime time speaking spot and had already endorsed Hillary Clinton. Met? Not yet.
  • Showcase the Democrat Party’s diversity (“race, creed, color, ethnicity, income level, education, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity”) and the campaign’s “Stronger Together” theme via media coverage of a diverse line-up of speakers. Met? Yes.
  • Sharply contrast Clinton’s experience and temperament with that of Trump. Met? Yes.
  • Energize delegates to go back home and work hard to elect Democrats all the way down the ballot. Met? Yes.
  • Get a post-convention bounce in the polls erasing the bounce Trump got following the GOP convention. Met? Yes.
From left, Elena McCullough, alternate delegate, of Wesley Chapel; Elaine Togneri, delegate, of New Port Richey; and, Dr. Susan A. MacManus chat at the Florida delegation breakfast. MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida, is a nationally known expert on Florida politics.
From left, Elena McCullough, alternate delegate, of Wesley Chapel; Elaine Togneri, delegate, of New Port Richey; and, Dr. Susan A. MacManus chat at the Florida delegation breakfast. MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida, is a nationally known expert on Florida politics.

On a more personal level, several female delegates made it perfectly clear that what they wanted most out of the convention was to savor the moment when Hillary accepted the nomination. They had supported Hillary in 2008, cried when she lost, and vowed to work hard for her again in 2016. To them the shattering of the glass ceiling with a win by Hillary was a giant step toward getting more women elected to higher-level offices.

Once Again, Florida gets special treatment
While Democrats can win the presidency without winning Florida, they absolutely want to win Florida in 2016 for two big reasons: (1) Florida’s open U.S. Senate seat is seen as critical to Democrats taking back control of that chamber, and (2) to offset any possible Trump victories in Rust Belt states. No surprise then that Florida delegates got special treatment at the DNC:

  • A great hotel location: The Downtown Marriott, also home to the California delegation.
  • Appearances by the “A” list of national speakers at delegation breakfasts: Sen./ VP nominee Tim Kaine, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Congress members Nancy Pelosi, Rosa DeLauro, Luis Gutierrez, Joaquin Castro, Barbara Lee, Joe Kennedy III, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (VA), former Gov. Howard Dean, and former U.S. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder, to name a few.
  • Great seats on the convention floor: Besides having great seats, Florida delegates were in a prime location for TV cameras to catch shots of them dancing and engaging in hoopla. Florida delegates rocked!

Best moments

  • Bringing party icons to the stage: President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton. Each of them generated long, loud cheers and helped rally strong support among delegates who do not want to lose the White House.
  • Entertainment with an edge: Clever vignettes were flashed on the screen during down times, made up of “Trumpisms” (his words) and “A Message From Your Possible Next President” spoofs. They drew lots of laughs and sharpened the contrast between The Donald and Hillary.
  • Speakers with targeted messages: Among the more memorable speeches were those by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who appealed to independent voters to support Clinton; Khizr Kahn, the father of an American Muslim soldier killed in Iraq in 2004 who made the point that not all Muslims are terrorists; and pleas for gun control by Gabby Giffords and Mothers of the Movement (African-American women whose children were killed by gun violence).
  • Chelsea Clinton’s introduction of Hillary: The warm emotional embrace between mother and daughter brought tears to many eyes.
  • Hillary’s acceptance speech: It was not as much the content of her speech as it was the context. So many supporters had waited a lifetime to see the gender barrier broken.
  • The balloon drop: Isn’t it always the best?

Worst moments

  • A lousy way to start a convention was the WikiLeak release of Democratic National Committee emails showing the party had played favorites in the primary by promoting Hillary over Bernie. It incensed the large Sanders delegation, and energized his supporters both inside and outside the convention arena. It resulted in the resignation of DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida. Her appearance at the kickoff Florida delegation breakfast drew loud boos from Bernie supporters and nonstop negative national media coverage.
  • Continued disruptions on the convention floor by Sanders delegates, especially when subjects of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) or military engagement were raised, but even in the middle of Hillary’s history-making acceptance speech. Hillary supporters complained that Sanders supporters were disrespectful, sore losers. Bernie supporters were themselves divided. Some blamed him for “selling out” when he called for Hillary’s nomination by acclamation. Others let it be known it was ridiculous to expect them to immediately jump onto the Hillary bandwagon. After all, for months they had put all their energy into the Sanders campaign, which had to them become a movement — not just support for an individual. The delegates left Philly with plenty of “Bernie or Bust” and “Never Hillary” sentiment still out there.

Celebrities, not swag
Florida Republicans went home from their convention with swag. Florida Democrats left Philly with photos and memories of “mingling” with stars from the entertainment and sports worlds, each chosen to connect with a specific generation. From the entertainment world: Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, Angela Bassett, Sarah Silverman, Lena Dunham, Elizabeth Banks, Eva Longoria, Chloe Grace Moretz, Star Jones, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, and Paul Simon. From the sports world: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Florida delegates headed back from the convention knowing they’ll need to work hard in what is likely to be another fiercely fought election in the Sunshine State, and in the nation.

By Susan A. MacManus

Dr. Susan A. MacManus is a resident of Land O’ Lakes. She a political scientist at the University of South Florida and was a political analyst for ABC Action News at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Published August 3, 2016

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Alicia Keys, Amy Klobuchar, Angela Bassett, Barack Obama, Barbara Lee, Bernie Sanders, Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Chloe Grace Moretz, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democratic National Convention, Elizabeth Banks, Eric Holder, Eva Longoria, Gabby Giffords, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, Jesse Jackson, Joaquin Castro, Joe Biden, Joe Kennedy III, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Katy Perry, Khizr Kahn, Lena Dunham, Lenny Kravitz, Luis Gutierrez, Melania Trump, Meryl Streep, Michael Bloomberg, Michelle Obama, Mothers of the Movement, Nancy Pelosi, Paul Simon, Philadelphia, Republican National Convention, Rosa DeLauro, Sarah Silverman, Sigourney Weaver, Star Jones, Tammy Baldwin, Ted Cruz, Terry McAuliffe, Tim Kaine, Trans-Pacific Partnership

Denham Oaks is celebrating 20 years

October 21, 2015 By B.C. Manion

The year was 1995.

Bill Clinton was in the White House.

Forrest Gump won Best Picture.

The San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl.

And, Denham Oaks Elementary School opened in Lutz.

The school, which will celebrate its 20th birthday on Oct. 30, has been the home of thousands of school children over the years — and has had six staff members since the beginning.

They stayed because they felt a sense of connection with the school, the staff and the students.

From left, Karen Anair, Kristen Eales, Shannon Presson, Mary Jane Kranendonk, Cathy Cohen and Susan Green have been on Denham Oaks Elementary School’s staff since it opened 20 years ago. The school plans a pep rally and birthday cake on Oct. 30 to celebrate. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
From left, Karen Anair, Kristen Eales, Shannon Presson, Mary Jane Kranendonk, Cathy Cohen and Susan Green have been on Denham Oaks Elementary School’s staff since it opened 20 years ago. The school plans a pep rally and birthday cake on Oct. 30 to celebrate.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“It’s a sense of family. I am comfortable here,” said Kristen Eales, a first-grade teacher, who spent most of her time at the school teaching kindergarten.

“It feels like home to me,” added Susan Green, who is now the school’s bookkeeper.

“I definitely feel a sense of ownership. We put the desks together here. We saw the walls. We came in construction. You always just felt like it was your school,” said Shannon Presson, who teaches fourth grade.

Mary Jane Kranendonk, the school’s physical education teacher, marvels at the beauty of the school’s setting.

“It’s a nature’s paradise out there. We’ve had owls, hawks,” she said.

Cathy Cohen, the school’s custodian, lives in Carpenter’s Run. She enjoys living near enough she can walk or bicycle to school.

“I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else,” said Karen Anair, who teaches children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

All of those staff members, except Green, have had their children educated at Denham Oaks Elementary, at 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz.

“Having my children go to school here, I always knew they were going to get phenomenal teachers,” Kranendonk said.

The elementary school began classes at its Lutz campus on Oct. 31, 1995.

Denham Oaks began the school year on double sessions with Lake Myrtle Elementary because of issues between the school and Mad Hatter Utilities.

The yearbook cover from Denham Oaks' first year, 1995. (Courtesy of Meagan Rathman)
The yearbook cover from Denham Oaks’ first year, 1995.
(Courtesy of Meagan Rathman)

The opening day at the new campus was particularly memorable for Cohen’s twin sons, who were 8 and were going into third grade.

“It was their birthday, Halloween,” she said.

The area around the school has changed enormously, the six women said.

State Road 54 was a two-lane road.

Oak Grove Boulevard didn’t exist.

And, there were no large commercial ventures anywhere nearby.

But, there were cow pastures and plenty of critters.

“The first year, the cows escaped, and they went across our whole campus. Cow poop everywhere!” Kranendonk said.

Snakes slithered into classrooms, and there was even a 5-foot alligator that got into a classroom.

“Not only did we stir up the wildlife with the school being built, but homes started being built,” Eales said.

Many other changes have occurred, as well.

In those early years, the majority of parents would pack their child’s lunch, Cohen recalled.

And Rosie Capehart, the lunchroom manager, was known for her tasty meals and for her bread, which not only tasted delicious, but also filled the campus with the aroma of freshly baked bread.

“I have great memories of Rosie’s lunches,” Kranendonk said.

Over the years, scores of happy memories have been made, the women said.

There have been field trips to Sea World and to the Ford/Edison Estates, and a Renaissance festival at the school.

There are also school traditions, including the annual Fall Festival and the Storybook Parade.

And, there have been changes, too.

The age of accountability has meant more structure and testing.

Technology has made impacts, too.

Now, the school can make automatic calls to parents, and can use Facebook, Twitter and its website to communicate what’s happening.

It was a lot different, when Green was working as a secretary in the school office.

“When there were notes going home, you’d have to make a 1,000 copies for these kids to take home,” she said.

Of course, many students have come and gone, and staff members have changed through the years, too.

When the school opened, Ruth (Biggs) Reilly was the principal.

And, she’s expected to attend the school’s celebration.

She’ll be among hundreds of students, staff members and invited guests for the festivities, which call for a pep rally, a birthday cake, a slide show and most likely, a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

It promises to be a big day.

Published October 21, 2015

Filed Under: Education, Local News, Lutz News Tagged With: Bill Clinton, Carpenter's Run, Cathy Cohen, Denham Oaks Elementary School, Forrest Gump, Karen Anair, Kristen Eales, Lake Myrtle Elementary, Lutz, Mad Hatter Utilities, Mary Jane Kranendonk, Oak Grove Boulevard, Rosie Capehart, Ruth Biggs Reilly, San Francisco 49ers, Shannon Presson, State Road 54, Susan Green

Carville’s remarks at Saint Leo are provocative, snappy

February 25, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is almost certain to be the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, according to political strategist James Carville.

Her chances of winning are “no worse than 50-50,” said Carville who was keynote speaker on the opening day of the sixth annual International Business Conference at Saint Leo University. This year’s conference theme was “Best Practices in Global Organizations.”

James Carville talks about the presidential contenders for 2016. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
James Carville talks about the presidential contenders for 2016.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

Before an audience of about 200 people, Carville entertained with funny anecdotes and blunt remarks on the dysfunctions of national politics.

The ‘ragin Cajun,” as he is sometimes called, was the Democratic strategist who led Bill Clinton’s successful presidential campaign in 1992, popularizing the slogan – “It’s the economy, stupid.” Clinton defeated incumbent President George H.W. Bush who, months before the election and in the aftermath of the first Gulf War, enjoyed more than 91 percent popularity in polls.

“I think (Hillary) has a good chance,” he said. “But running for president is enormously difficult.”

She will have to show how she is “substantively and stylistically” different from President Obama. “Whatever you may think of Obama, people are kind of looking for something different. They always are,” Carville said.

And the Republican candidate will be?

“I give (Chris) Christie no chance,” he said. “I give Jeb (Bush) less of a chance than most handicappers…and Ted Cruz a little more of a chance.”

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney recently backed away from a third presidential run. But Romney is waiting and watching, Carville said.

“I think Mitt is doing his knitting on the sideline. If anybody is looking for Jeb Bush to lose in New Hampshire, he is.”

Carville tagged Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker as a must-win candidate in Iowa, or he will be out of the race. But like Romney, he also is counting on a Bush loss in New Hampshire’s primary.

Carville was a counterpoint to conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, who was last year’s keynote speaker at the business conference.

“It’s great for students,” said Frank Orlando, political science instructor at the university. “I want kids to pay attention to different issues. It’s important to know them.”

Emily Mincey, 21, a junior majoring in history, is focused on a career as a political strategist.

“Politics is where I want to go,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to know what was going on. I want to look for candidates who are smart. We can’t function without good politicians.”

Mincey said she doesn’t agree with Carville on every issue, but he is an example of how to be successful in politics.

Dade City resident Lex Smith also doesn’t always agree with Carville. But he said, “I always respect his opinions. I always enjoy hearing what he has to say.”

Carville’s remarks were provocative and snappy.

The country is divided, he said, with Democrats clustered in cities and Republicans in rural communities. A check of the election map in Pennsylvania in 2012 is a stark picture of the political landscape, he said.

President Obama carried the state by 5 percent of the total vote. But within 18 Congressional districts, he carried only five. It is an example of why Democrats are better positioned to win presidential elections and Republicans Congressional elections.

“Because of clusters, we don’t interact in the way we used to do,” Carville said. “Everyone is comfortable with their own coalition.”

Florida will be ground zero for Republicans in the presidential election because the state has 29 of the 270 electoral votes needed to capture the White House. “If you win Florida, you bust the numbers,” he said. “You cannot draw a map that Republicans can ever win the presidency without Florida.”

Democrats, however, can pursue strategies in swing states, such as New Hampshire, Virginia and Ohio, to create a path to win, he added.

Carville credited boxer Mike Tyson with inadvertently making the smartest comment ever about politics when Tyson said “Everybody’s got a plan until they get hit in the mouth.”

Anyone who runs for president will get hit in the mouth a lot, Carville said.

On Hillary Clinton, he said there is an understanding among Democrats that it is her turn to run for president. That is why Sen. Elizabeth Warren won’t get into the race, Carville said.

President Obama is a different kind of politician. “Most of them are in politics because they like people,” Carville said. “It’s kind of odd for someone to be in politics to not be as concerned with what people think about them as he does. It’s like being a banker and you don’t like money.”

In recent years Carville, 70, has taught political science at Tulane University in New Orleans and consulted for candidates in international elections. He is a friend of the Clintons, but said he has no plans to take on another national campaign. “I don’t want to be in centerfield with fly balls hitting me in the head,” he said.

Still, Carville said he went into politics knowing it was a contact sport.

“Didn’t nobody have more fun doing what he did than James Carville,” he said.

Published February 25, 2015

Filed Under: Top Story Tagged With: Bill Clinton, Chris Christie, Dade City, Elizabeth Warren, Frank Orlando, George H.W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, James Carville, Jeb Bush, Lex Smith, Mike Tyson, Mitt Romney, Saint Leo University, Scott Walker, Ted Cruz, Tucker Carlson, Tulane University

Florida first state to demand a single-subject Constitutional convention

May 1, 2014 By Michael Hinman

The first step in many to call the nation’s first Constitutional convention in nearly 230 years is on its way to Washington D.C., after a proposal from state Sen. Wilton Simpson earned approval from both the Florida House and Florida Senate.

S.M. 368 calls for an Article V Convention — named for the section of the U.S. Constitution that allows states to start the amendment proposal process. This particular convention would demand the U.S. Congress only consider and pass bills with a single subject. The goal is to eliminate the many unrelated riders that get attached to bills, amendments that may not have been passed otherwise on their own.

“This is about having the federal government start conducting themselves in a professional manner,” Simpson, R-Trilby, told The Laker/Lutz News back in January. “Most of the frustration we have with our government is that you have something like a spending bill in Congress. They always add on several hundred millions of dollars of something that has nothing to do with the subject they are dealing with. And as a citizen of the state of Florida, I am tired of our federal government being operated this way.”

What made it through the Legislature is not necessarily a bill, but instead a “memorial.” It demonstrates Florida’s support of a specific measure, in this case calling for a convention, and does not require the signature of Gov. Rick Scott.

However, that does not mean delegates should start making travel plans. At least 33 other states will have to pass similar or identical memorials before such a convention could be scheduled.

A convention of this sort is just one way to amend the Constitution, but one that is typically not used. In fact, the last time a convention was called this way, it was 1787, and that was to write the U.S. Constitution itself in Philadelphia.

Congress can propose Constitutional amendments, and then have them ratified by the states. However, if Congress doesn’t introduce such an amendment — which supporters of this movement believe Congress wouldn’t do — then the fallback position is to have states call for the convention directly.

The passage of the memorial was great news for W. Spider Webb Jr., a former Tallahassee lobbyist who founded the activist group Single Subject Amendment.

“Both parties are guilty about the use of riders,” Webb said in January. “We are not trying to give Congress a black eye. We are trying to improve the way Americans view Congress.”

Webb now plans to take the newly approved memorial to the national stage as he tries to convince other states to do the same thing.

“If Florida passes this, then other states will take a more serious look at this,” Simpson said earlier this year. “Doing a Constitutional amendment is such a large task, I think it will pick up momentum as more states pass it.”

Many state governments already prevent riders on bills, either by requiring bills to be single-subject, or giving governors the power to veto specific portions of a bill, and approving the rest.

President Bill Clinton tried to accomplish this at the federal level with a line-item veto act introduced by Republican U.S. Sen. Bob Dole in 1996. However, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that law unconstitutional in 1998.

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, D.C., Philadelphia, Rick Scott, Single Subject Amendment, Tallahassee, Trilby, U.S. Congress, U.S. Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court, W. Spider Webb Jr., Washington, Wilton Simpson

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04/21/2021 – Democratic Club

The Central Pasco Democratic Club will meet on April 21, via Zoom, to discuss voting rights and current legislative issues. Socializing starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6:45 p.m. For information, email , or call 813-383-8315. … [Read More...] about 04/21/2021 – Democratic Club

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The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will present “Strategies for Short-Term Financial Wellness” on April 21 at 6:30 p.m., for adults. Participants can learn tips and information for building emergency funds, managing debt and increasing cash flow. Registration is through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 04/21/2021 – Financial wellness

04/22/2021 – Coalition meeting

The University Area CDC Partners Coalition’s second quarter meeting presentation will be available on the University Area CDC’s  YouTube channel starting April 22 at 9 a.m. Viewers can learn about programs and initiatives happening in the uptown/University area. The presentation includes “Community Investment/Uptown Sky”; a panel conversation in juvenile and criminal justice; and “Small Biz = Big Impact.” For information, visit UACDC.org. … [Read More...] about 04/22/2021 – Coalition meeting

04/22/2021 – Virtual Earth Day

UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension will host a Virtual Earth Day Celebration on April 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. Educational sessions, with guest speakers, will include: Composting, gardening, getting outside, water conservation, forest services and recycling. To register, visit bit.ly/registrationpascoearthday. To join in on April 22, visit bit.ly/zoom2021earthday. … [Read More...] about 04/22/2021 – Virtual Earth Day

04/23/2021 – Improv Night

Live Oak Theatre will present an Improv Night on April 23 at 7:30 p.m., at the Carol & Frank Morsani Center, 21030 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville. The family friendly event will feature the Conservatory’s Improv Troupe with games, skits and actor’s choices inspired by the audience. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seats are $10 per person in advance and $15 at the door. For information and tickets, visit LiveOakTheatre.org, call 352-593-0027, or email . … [Read More...] about 04/23/2021 – Improv Night

04/24/2021 – Butterfly release

Cindy’s Secret Place, 34953 Blanton Road in Dade City, will host a Butterfly Release on April 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the release at 1 p.m. (cost is $5). The event will include raffles, a plant sale, vendors and butterfly houses. Guests can bring chairs and blankets. For information, call 352-457-4030 or 352-424-4972. … [Read More...] about 04/24/2021 – Butterfly release

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Little Libraries can make a big impact

Award recipient provides food for thought

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